Any one else Homeschool around here??

We are considering it for our children. I believe it is becoming more popular around here because I seem to hear of more and more folks doing this now than ever.

If you had it to do over again, would you? What were the major pros and cons?

Thanks

My kids are all out of school now, but I am wondering- Why would you want to home school for your children? It seems to me that would deny them the opportunity of learning the social skills of dealing with others that they would need al their life.

Yes, I would do it again. The pros are you teach what is valuable and not waste time with "busy work". I taught from 7th through 12th. My son took the ACT and scored a 24 while my daughter opted for a GED and scored a 98th % in reading. The cons are getting a system that works for you. Everybody approaches it differently. There are many resources available and you have to try a few until you see what works for you. We ended up with AOP for all of our book learning and used everyday experiences to teach manners, logic, kindness and independence.
To excelman, they did not miss out on social skills as they did not enjoy sports and the only kids that mattered at the school where the jocks. They were always bored and spent a lot of time depressed from the monotony of the routine.They were much happier after I took them out and we still have all our regular friends.

I am not home-schooled but know plenty of other kids who are.

We homeschool. We have 2 boys, 15 yo, and 11 yo and a 3 yo girl. Wouldn't trade it for anything. I have taught in public schools for 7 years and wouldn't want that for my kids.

I would not consider it for my children - I want them to have socialization skills that only come from school with a diverse population. They might as well learn to live in the real world from the very beginning. I know lots of homeschooled kids with lots of problems and unrealistic views of the world. I know the same from some of the Christian schools that have created an artificial world for their kids.

I would've just choked my three after the first two days.

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Originally posted by bubba81962:
I would not consider it for my children - I want them to have socialization skills that only come from school with a diverse population. They might as well learn to live in the real world from the very beginning. I know lots of homeschooled kids with lots of problems and unrealistic views of the world. I know the same from some of the Christian schools that have created an artificial world for their kids.

I am not sure how you define diverse population, but most socialization skills happen after school or on weekends. During the day, the kids are so rushed they can't even make it to the bathroom, much less talk to each other. My kids do live in the 'real' world. It was not a decision we made because of religion, we just realized we could do a better job and did. My son has a 3.52 gpa at UNA and my daughter is in vocational training at Shoals. As for vick13 choking her three, the thought does enter your mind sometimes. Luckily, I resisted.

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Originally posted by sbwillingham60:
We homeschool. We have 2 boys, 15 yo, and 11 yo and a 3 yo girl. Wouldn't trade it for anything. I have taught in public schools for 7 years and wouldn't want that for my kids.

What materials are you using? Did you teach high school or elementary? I also have a friend who is a public teacher and homeschooled her kids. Its nice to know that someone who is considered "an expert" also sees the benefits of homeschool.

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Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
Yes, I would do it again. The pros are you teach what is valuable and not waste time with "busy work".

Such as learning how to cope with new friends and new circumstances, learning how to deal with children who are less fortunate, learning how to deal with teachers they've never met before, ya know, just the simple life skills necessary to achieve in this world - is that what you mean by "busy work"?

Your kids would have done just as phenomenal in public schools just because you give a dang. I know this for a fact, I've got a older one that went through the gifted program and a tounger one who is not quite as "gifted" but is phenomonally successful in every measurable way.

Taking the High School experience away from your kids is almost a form of abuse in my opinion.

Homeschool is ABUSE????????
You don't think my kids make friends with their professors or are not AROUND less fortunate kids? Do you mean that as money wise or disability wise??They did do well in elementary school, both were number three in class. Both were liked by teachers and had friends. Both were too intelligent to do crap homework that involved "MOM" running all over town for stupid projects that meant nothing and wasted money. Please do not assume you know how homeschool works when you have never been interested in trying it. I am glad your kids did well but so did mine so please don't judge me unless you are willing to be judged as well.

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Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
Homeschool is ABUSE????????
I am glad your kids did well but so did mine so please don't judge me unless you are willing to be judged as well.

Keeping your children under your wing for so long controlling their every thought, indoctrinating them with your views instead of letting them flounder and make their own mistakes is just too Orwellian for my tastes.

Glad to know that you post the free thought network but you don't believe any one can have free thought but you. I see no reason to argue with you as you are a 'flamer' or 'troll' as defined by wikipedia. Someone who loves to irritate or inflame other people at forums. Why don't you go back to the political forum and bother PBA some more? I did what I did for my personal reasons and I do not need to explain my reasons to you. I asked for info from other homeschool families, not people who only want to criticize it. My children are independent and have their own views and ways. If you are the one who is an atheist, did you give your children the right to chose their beliefs??

I am seriously considering homeschooling my son. He's 9 weeks old so I have a good deal of time to mull it over.

My daughter is 16 and attends public school. If I knew then what I know now, I would have pulled her out in the 7th grade and finished her education up here at the house.

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Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
Homeschool is ABUSE????????
You don't think my kids make friends with their professors or are not AROUND less fortunate kids? Do you mean that as money wise or disability wise??They did do well in elementary school, both were number three in class. Both were liked by teachers and had friends. Both were too intelligent to do crap homework that involved "MOM" running all over town for stupid projects that meant nothing and wasted money. Please do not assume you know how homeschool works when you have never been interested in trying it. I am glad your kids did well but so did mine so please don't judge me unless you are willing to be judged as well.

I am sorry, this sounds like you maybe took your kids out of school for your own ease and comfort. You did not want to run around town and 'waste money' on projects that you thought were 'stupid'. Did it ever cross your mind that those projects may have been enjoyable to your children, had you not let your opinion known? Do you not think that your children maybe benefited by working side by side with other children their age on those projects? Seems, from your own admission that it was your having to contribute that was the 'big' problem.

You never said that it had anything to do with their being unsafe, or it being a moral issue (as maybe for religious reasons). Looks like your kids paid a huge price, for your ease.

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Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
I did what I did for my personal reasons and I do not need to explain my reasons to you.

I did'nt ask for an explanation. I simply offer my opinion of your choice. I'd offer the same opinion if I saw you verbally abusing your children in public. If I think it is wrong, I will tell you. don't like it? Don't abuse them in public.

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If you are the one who is an atheist, did you give your children the right to chose their beliefs??

Absolutely. I still carry them to functions that will help them develop their own spirituality. I believe spirituality is a basic a need as food and sex for some people. I actually despise atheist parents who would indoctrinate their children with disbelief as much as I despise parents who brainwash their kids into believing in a omnipotent space alien.

We should all be able to believe what we want - as long as those beliefs do not adversely affect others.

Children should be exposed to the world, not hidden. They should see the good and the bad. They should be exposed to failure as well as victory. They should socialize with those less fortunate and those much more fortunate. They definitely should not be coveted and protected by overbearing parents confined within their own home.

I am passionate in my belief (supported by evidence) that Florence City Schools are the best schools in the entire state of Alabama and believe just as passionately that homeschoolers and private school parents are helping destroy that fine institution because of prejudice, ignorance and over-protectiveness.

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Originally posted by MomsyDearest:
My daughter is 16 and attends public school. If I knew then what I know now, I would have pulled her out in the 7th grade and finished her education up here at the house.

Why?

GoFish, I always have a strong urge to hug your wife when you get all reasonable and sweet (that would be in the last part of your next to last post - in case anyone doubts me...haha). So close and yet so far. Yeah, yeah, you get a hug too.

Regarding homeschooling, a parent usually (big U) is the best judge of what is best for their child. If you have the abilities needed to home school and feel it is appropriate, go for it. I, like Vick, would have strangled mine or they might have strangled me.LOL

Fine then, in your opinion I “abused” my children. In the end that is all it is, after all, your opinion. My decision at the time was the right one to me. My children themselves were allowed to make their own vote in the decision too. It was my son who brought it up in the first place. Now it really doesn’t matter anyway, since both are in college and doing well. If your school system works well enough for you, then that is wonderful. I am happy for you. Not all of us, however, are gifted with local schools worth noting. Many of my son’s friends that stayed in the local high school had very low grades/ACT scores whereas he managed a 26 on the ACT with his first and only try. Thus, home school worked for us.

While I enjoy the opinions as much as the next person, classifying what I did as abuse angered not only me, but the whole of my family as well. Now, however, I have calmed down and would like for all of us to let this tread get back to what I originally hoped it would be: a place that pre/current/post home school families could post their comments on. If you have no experience with home schooling, have a poor “opinion” of it, or are otherwise looking to troll, please do it elsewhere. After all, we are supposed to be adults.